Typology and Trends of Forest Products in Manjo Subdivision, Littoral Region, Cameroon

Forest resource economic, social and cultural gains are taking stands in forest adjacent communities of Cameroon portraying momentous swings from local subsistent to modern market-driven forest resource exploitation. Manjo Subdivision in the Littoral Region is one of such important hot spots in Cameroon where forest resources that the local population depends on their exploitation for socioeconomic and cultural livelihoods are exposed to environmental threats. The main aim of this paper is to identify and examine the trends of forest products in order to propose measures to those with negative trends. The results obtained from data collected through a sampled of 392 administered questionnaires, complemented with field interviews, Focus Group Discussions, field observations and documentaries assessment showed that several categories of forest products viz; timber, wild ropes, medicinal plants, animal-based products, wild plant leaves, palm wine, wild vegetables, fuel wood, wild fruits, pining poles, stakes, snails and honey are exploited in Manjo Subdivision. From these forest products, bush meat, medicinal plants and timber products among others are the main products with perceived negative trends while fuel wood, wild leaves and charcoal were the main products with perceived positive trends by the population in the study area. We therefore recommended that the driving forces of forest resource degradation and loss should be investigated through the promotion of research by the City Council of Manjo and measures put in place to enhance forest resource sustainability in the study area.